Friday, 29 July 2011

My Crafty Life Part Five

Ah. The Scrapbooking Years.﻿ Still in them. Still loving them. And it all started, as it usually does, with a trip to the newsagents.

A layout about a layout? Probably overkill. But for the sake of completeness, here it is

I'd taken the morning off from fixing the hem on my sister's wedding dress; and I was browsing around, thinking about what I could make for her as a souvenir of her big day. As I was paying for something else, I caught sight of a scrapbooking magazine. I'd never seen anything like it. All the things I'd been playing about with for years - cutting, collecting, keeping- were right there, together. It was irresistable. I brought the magazine home. I stayed up late into the night looking at the pictures. Then I got back out of bed so that I could read some more (really). I sat at midnight, wondering at such perfection.

Of course I had to have a go. I looked around, I bought a few things and I made this (ready? remember, it's my first page)

That's my very first page. Never seen in public before. We can all see what isn't so great about it. But, know what? I like it a lot. It has pictures (I even took a detail shot); it has a story (on the tag); it has ephemera (that receipt envelope from the shop in the story) and it has my set-the-mood patterned paper background I still use today. It was a scrapbook page. and it was a start.

I joined UK Scrappers, I took some classes. I met some nice people and I kept on cutting and sticking. One of my pages was spotted in the UKS Gallery and in Spring 2009 it was published in Scrapbook Inspirations. Then I had another one picked up, so I submitted a couple more and they were published too. I took part in their Ready Steady Scrap challenge later that year and it was a lot of fun. I was so sad to see Scrapbook Inspirations go. A lot of us were.

Then I started to blog and I met even more lovely scrapbookers. I took other classes and I joined the Gotta Craft team; and all the time I'm still working on my pages, pushing myself to learn new things. I'm not a technique-y scrapper (I don't think). I'm more about the story and a piece of pretty paper and a sharp pair of scissors. But I'm always finding new ways to lay down what I want to say and I don't think I'll be retiring from this part of my crafty life any time soon. Oh, and that souvenir for my sister? I made her a scrapbook, of course, with some cross stitched decoration and a box to keep it in covered with some left over curtain silk. I never throw anything out, and I never, ever forget.

So that's my crafty life. By the time I'd finished all of my pages, this is what I thought:

- My Reading Life might just be next.
- I used the same basic design all week, and I'd do this again, even though I was aching to try something new by the end.
- I used two kits from Midnight Rooster throughout. This was the easiest way to keep it all coordinated.
- Other ideas did come to me as I worked. All the fancy dress costumes I made; and the soft toys I sold at a Craft Fair. But I'm happy enough to add pages in at some point in the future. That's what ring bound albums are made for.

Now over to you. If you were to tell your story in stages like this, what subject would you choose?

35 comments:

Sian - you have made some truly beautiful pages this week. I love how you have explained the background behind each one. Each one different but amazing. I have loved traveling in your crafting journey this week. Thank you. xxx

How wonderful to make a page of the very first scrapbooking page you did! I've loved hearing how your crafty life has unfolded ... I'm not sure what lens I might choose: possibly something to do with pens and paper!

Really enjoyed this series Sian - and your explanation for pattern paper as a background today - something I don't do and have always wondered why others do - one of those little things I wonder about sometimes!

If I was to do a series like this (which I'm tempted to do when I get some spare time) I would do 'crafts I've tried', perhaps - gifts I've made through the years.

Would love to see your story on selling craft products - would be a nice theme for a bloghop or storytelling sunday - I'm sure many of us have sold craft products and have stories to tell

You have done a lovely album here, I love the continuity of it how each page compliments the next. I've looked forward to seeing what you do next each day. Thank you for sharing these pages and the stories behind them.

Hmmmm, my crafty evolution, actually, I do not see myself as crafty at all but my cooking has been quite an evolution.Thank you for sharing this series, it really is a lovely way to tie together many stories .. and I certainly noticed the continuity of your design!

This has really been a fun series to follow. You are creative on so many levels! If I was to do something like this, I might consider a series of pages about the pages where we've lived (maybe with the theme "Postcards from...) or the different jobs I've had, though that has the potential to be numbingly boring. We'll see.

You are so brave to put up your first LO, mine are hidden away in an album not many peeps know about. I am proud of them but no-one sees them. If I did a series it would include musicals I have been in, books I love, my nursing career perhaps, travel. There could be alot of fun ideas there. Maybe we should have a new thing like storytelling Sunday but on a different day?Anyway I have loved seeing all your beautiful LOs and finding out more about my lovely friend,Jo xxx

I've enjoyed this series too and, as you know, it made me think of my own crafting 'journey'. While thinking of all the crafts I no longer do I had a pang of Oh, what if papercrafts/scrapping is only a passing phase too?' and that made me a tiny bit anxious! Hopefully that means it isn't likely to pass, if it means enough for me to worry about not hainvg it ... but who knows? [OK, now I'm a bit more anxious now...].

Also - I'm with you on the non-techniquey scrapper side too. I'm definitely a story girl. And pretty papers and patterns and colours just give me story 'with benefits' I suppose!

Sian have loved this series of blog posts. Your first page is lovely I think its great to be proud of how we scrapbooked when we started out you can see your own progression from the start to end of an album and I know for me its a journey Im proud of. For that reason I would never redo and discard my original pages.

I love the idea that scrapbooking tells a story and its funny how many hobbies (obesessions) begin with a trip to the newsagents.

I have met many real life and online friends through this great hobby and I am proud to be part of what is in the main a great community

Ohhh, I remember your layout in Scrapbook Inspirations called something like 'Roboters don't wear trousers'. I may (recently recycled a load of mags) have it still. I think most scrapbookers seems to of had some sort of crafty journey....mine just hasn't included sewing. For me scrapbooking is the only one thats hung around for a while though.

I love that you have documented your crafting and I'd probably do the same. In fact, I did so in a book I made for Carrie a couple of years ago - made a page with a list of all the crafts/hobbies I've moved through in my life.

I really love that you shared your very first scrapbook layout. I've thought of going back and re-doing my wedding album because it is just so basic, but like you, I rather like the simplicity of it - it was definitely a starting point.

I think my series would probably be about the quilts and costumes I have made and how people in this area are all wannabee quilters - well that's what they all said as they passed my stall at the craft fair "I got one of them quilts at 'ome. I'm gonna finish it one day" or the inevitable "I have always fancied quilting, I'm going to make one, one day"I'll stop now and rant on my own blog LOL. Your story has been inspirational, as usual.

A terrific series and I loved hearing about your scrapping days! I love how you kept your design the same throughout. This is a wonderful beginning to an album all about your crafting. I would love to see a reading series. For me, the thing I often think of is the seasons of my life. I think I would document my husband and I as childless, then having young children, teenagers, and now we are empty nesters. The last would be when we have grandchildren. Everything is always a full circle! :)

Sian,So much to think about in your post today. I still like my first scrapbook page. It was made in a Creative Memories class. Maybe I'll do a post on my craft beginnings . . . embroidery and counted cross stitch; my first scrapbook page, etc.As for telling my life via an evolution of things, it strikes me that the art journal which I started for Shimelle's class "When I Grow Up" is just that. It's about what I wanted to be be at different stages in my life. Reminds me that I should get back to that.Thanks for the wonderful week!Rinda

A layout about a layout is ok with me and I've loved your design to follow through the week, they have all looked so different. I'm glad you shared your story of how your crafty interest unfolded as I think we all have a similar story to tell. Some things were learnt at school, some taught by our Mums and some self taught but I guess we are learning all the time. Themes? Do you know fancy dress and books would be a hit in our house too, the fancy dress abeit reluctantly. I look forward to the next instalment.

Great series Sian. I have looked forward to them and they have been inspirational. I think if I were to do a series (great idea and i'm embracing Shimelle's memory spark prompt as i'm thinking of this!) I would start with my jobs as they have taken me into different areas and it was where I met many friends and relationships. Jen xx

That's a wonderful first page - you should see mine. On second thought - no, suffice it to say it was done at a Creative Memories class. I've really enjoyed your week of craft entries. I think if I were to do one it would be something to with crafts, books, travel or the places I've lived (now that one has me thinking)

I so enjoyed reading your Crafty Life journey Sian. I want to do something similar (someday). I am thinking of doing some journaling and layouts about my love of reading - I'm taking the BPC Write Now! workshop that starts next week and we are supposed to pick a topic to write about! :>)

This has been such an amazing series of posts & stories, ive so enjoyed following your crafting years, and so great to do a layout about your first layout. See you even had great style right at the start :)

I loved this series Sian and look forward to the next one :) I think if I were to do this it would be very similar, I might call it my "artistic life", also I love that you shared your first page, there are still some similarities in how you scrap now (patterned paper, journaling cards, buttons... :)

Hi Sian, I am just catching up after three weeks away from google reader! Loved all your pages about your crafty life and loved hearing the stories and progression. Made me think about my crafty journey and how I must document it.